Refrigerator illuminating device



Feb. 21, 1956 R, w BR EFRIGERATOR ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Aug. 11,1953 INVENTOR. ROBERT W. BRACE ATTY.

United States Patent REFRIGERATOR ILLUMINATING DEVICE Robert WilliamBrace, Evansville, Ind., assiguor to International Harvester Company, acorporation of New Jersey Application August 11, 1953, Serial No.373,480

7 Claims. (Cl. 240-4) This invention relates generally to refrigeratorcabinet constructions and more specifically to novel means forsimultaneously opening a refrigerator door and energizing a refrigeratorcabinet light.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple mechanism foropening a refrigerator door and for lighting a refrigerator cabinet lampwhen the door is unlatched by means of a foot pedal.

It is a feature of this invention that a spring loaded plunger iscompressed when the refrigerator door is closed to provide the powernecessary to open the refrigerator door at a later time.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparentupon a perusal of the following specification and drawing of which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a refrigerator cabinet anddoor having portions thereof cut away to show the various elements ofthe present invention; and,

Figure 2 is a partial side cross-sectional view showing the latchingmechanism of the refrigerator door.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment but it is to beunderstood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by oneskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of thisinvention.

For a detailed description of the invention reference is made to thedrawing. The refrigerator cabinet comprises an outer liner having aninner liner 11 disposed therein and spaced some distance from the wallsthereof, as is well known in the art. The space between the inner liner11 and the outer liner 10 is filled with some form of insulation (notshown). The inner liner 11 is formed to have an outwardly extendingflange 12 at the marginal edges thereof. The outer liner 10 has a rolledsection 13 formed at the marginal edges thereof and extending in aninward direction toward said inner liner 11. To maintain the inner liner11 properly spaced from the outer liner 10 and to structurallystrengthen the refrigerator cabinet as a unit, tie brackets 14 aremounted across the space between the inner and outer liners and fastenedthereto by any means well known in the art. Further, as is well known inthe art, a breaker strip 15 is provided. The breaker strip 15 ismaintained within the rolled section 13 of the outer liner 10 andagainst the flange 12 of the inner liner 11 by spring or clip means (notshown).

The refrigerator door 16 is pivotally mounted over the open side of therefrigerator cabinet. Only a small portion of the refrigerator door 16is shown since its construction is well known in the art. Therefrigerator door 16 comprises an outer door panel 17 and an inner doorpanel 18. The inner door panel 18 is spaced some distance from the outerdoor panel 17 and insulation (not shown) is disposed therebetween toproperly insulate the door. in order to prevent heat from beingconducted from the outer door panel 17 to the inner door panel 18, acombined breaker strip and gasket 19 is provided. The breaker strip andgasket 19 serves as a heat break between the outer door panel 17 and theinner door panel 18 and also serves as a resilient gasket about the edgeof the refrigerator door 16. The outer door panel 17, the inner panel18, and the element 19 are fastened together by any means well known inthe art. To maintain the refrigerator door 16 in its closed position alatch 20 is provided. The latch 20 which may easily be seen in Figure 2is pivotally mounted within the refrigerator door 16, and a portionthereof extends outwardly from the refrigerator door 16 through anopening 21 in the refrigerator door 16. A resilient spring 22 isconnected to the latch 20 and to the inner door panel 18 and istensioned to bias the latch 20 in a downward direction. A cooperatingopening 23 is provided in the rolled section 13 of the outer liner 10,and with the latch 20 positioned through the opening 23, therefrigerator door 16 is securely maintained in the closed position, ascan easily be seen in Figure 2. To release the latch 20 in order thatthe door 16 may be opened, a foot pedal 24 is provided. The foot pedal24 is pivotally mounted to the outer liner 10, and a portion thereofextends through the outer liner 10 to the space between the outer liner10 and the inner liner 11. The inwardly projecting portion of the footpedal 24 is connected to a rod 25 and a spring 26. The rod 25 isslidably mounted within a bracket 27. The spring 26 is tensioned to biasthe inwardly projecting portion of the foot pedal 24 in a downwarddirection. The upper end of the rod 25 abuts a portion of the latch 21),and as the outwardly extending portion of the foot pedal 23.isdepressed, the rod 25 will be projected upwardly to in turn pivot thelatch 20 about its mounting means in an upward direction, therebyreleasing the latch 20 from cooperation with the outer liner 10. Therefrigerator door 16 will then be released from its latching engagementwith the outer liner 10 and the refrigerator door 16 may then be opened.

In order to illuminate the interior of the refrigerator, a lamp 28 isprovided. The lamp 28 is mounted in some portion of the inner liner 11so that the interior of the refrigerator cabinet may be properlyilluminated when the lamp 28 is lit. Lamp receptacle 29 is provided forthe lamp 28 and a length of electrical cord 30 is connected thereto. Thecord 30 is shown as having a broken section 31 to indicate that the cord30 may be of any length sufficient to allow placement of the lamp 28 inany portion of the refrigerator cabinet, and that the cord 30 may beconnected'to a power source (not shown) for the lamp 28.

A mechanism 32 is provided to simultaneously cause the refrigerator door16 to open and the lamp 28 to light when the foot pedal 24 has beendepressed to release the latch 20. The mechanism 32 comprises threeessential parts, a bumper element 33, a spring-loaded element 34,

and a switch 35.

element 34 comprises a cylinder 39, a plunger 40, a coiled spring 41 anda pin 42. The cylinder 39, which is shown in section in Figure 1 has aflange formed at the open end thereof and extending in an outwardlydirection. as can:

easily be seen in Figure 1. The screws 37 are threaded through theU-shaped element 36 and into and through the flange of the cylinder 39to maintain the cylinder 39 mounted to the U-shaped element 36. Theplunger 40 is positioned partially within the cylinder 39 and theforward end thereof extends through an opening provided in. the breakerstrip 15. The portion of the plunger 40 which. is positioned within thecylinder 39 is smaller in diameter than the remainder of the plunger 40so that the coiled spring 41 may be mounted about that portion oftheplunger 40. The rearward end of the plunger 40 projects through anopening in one end of cylinder 39 and a pin 42 is mounted through a holein the end of the plunger 40 to limit the outward movement of theplunger 40. The coiled spring 41 is wound about the portion of theplunger 40 within the cylinder 39 and is partially compressed to biasthe plunger 40 outward from the cylinder 39. The outward portion of theplunger 4%) is rounded as can easily be seen in Figure 1. be seen thatwhen the plunger 40 is projected rearwardly into the cylinder 39, thecoiled spring 41 is additionally compressed, and as the plunger 40 isreleased, the coiled spring 41 will force the plunger outward to causeit to assume the position shown in Figure 1.

A bumper 33 formed of a material which can withstand the shock of theplunger 40 is mounted to the inner door panel 18 by any means well knownin the art. The bumper 33 is positioned in the inner door panel 18normal to the axis along which the plunger 40 is movable when the door16 is closed. Thus it may be seen that when the refrigerator door 16 isclosed, the bumper 33 will project against the rounded end of theplunger 40 and will cause the plunger 40 to be projected within thecylinder 39 compressing the coiled spring 41. Further, as therefrigerator door 16 is closed, the beveled surface of the latch 20 willslide upon the lower surface of the opening 23 in the outer liner 10.When the door is in the fully closed position, the coiled spring 22 willdraw the latch 20 downward to cause the latch 20 to catch upon the loweredge of the opening 23 to maintain the refrigerator door 16 in theclosed position. At this time the plunger 40 will be fully projectedwithin the cylinder 39, and the coiled spring 41 will be compressed to amaximum. If the foot pedal 24 is then depressed, the latch 20 will bereleased as previously described, and the forward portion of the plunger40 will be forced from the cylinder 39 by the coiled spring 41 tothereby open the refrigerator door 16.

The switch element 35 is connected to one end of the cord 30 in serieswith the power source and the lamp 28. The switch element 35 is operatedby the plunger 43. The details of the switch element 35 are not shownsince these switch elements are well known in the art. It is believedsufficient to note that the switch element 35 will close theaforementioned circuit across the ends of the cord 30 connected theretowhen the plunger 43 is allowed to move outwardly from the switch element35, and the connection between the ends of the cord 30 connected to theswitch element 35 will be opened or broken when the plunger 43 is forcedinto the switch element 35. Further, a spring (not shown) is mountedwithin the switch element 35 to normally bias the plunger 43 to thefully extended position. To mount the switch mechanism 35 in cooperationwith the other elements of the mechanism 32, two brackets 44 and 45 areprovided. The bracket 44 is generally C-shaped as can easily be seen inFigure l. The forward edge of the bracket 44 has a pair of flangesthereon through which the screws 37 are threaded to maintain the bracket44 rigidly mounted in a cooperating realtionship with the bracket 36.The bracket 44 extends through an opening in the flange 12 of the innerliner 11. The rearward portion of the bracket 44 has an opening therein.The bracket 45 is also generally C-shaped and has a cylindricalprojection at the forward edge thereof which is mounted through theopening in the bracket 44 and is fastened thereto such as by a turningof the end of the cylindrical portion. The switch mechanism 35 ismounted within the bracket 45, and the plunger 43 is positioned toextend through the cylindrical portion of the bracket 45 and the openingof the bracket 44. The rearward portion of the bracket 45 is bentagainst the rearward portion of the switch portion 35 to rigidlymaintain the switch mechanism 35 mounted within Thus it can the bracket45. The plunger 43 is positioned in axial alignment to the rearward endof the plunger 40 so that the rearward end of the plunger 40 willproject the plunger 43 into the switch mechanism when the plunger ismoved rearwardly. When the refrigerator door 16 is opened, allowing theplunger 49 to be moved under the power of the coiled compressed spring41, the rearward end of the plunger 40 will release the plunger 43 andallow the plunger 43 to move outwardly from the switch mechanism 35.Thus it can be seen that as the foot pedal 24 is depressed to cause therefrigerator door 16 to be unlatched, the plunger 40 will cause therefrigerator door to open and will cause the switch mechanism 35 tooperate to in turn cause the lamp 28 to light. As the refrigerator dooris closed the coiled spring 41 will be compressed and the lamp 28 willbe extinguished.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to beprotected by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator door pivotallymounted over an open side of said refrigerator cabinet, a lamp mountedwithin said refrigerator cabinet, latching means operable to unlatchsaid refrigerator door from said refrigerator cabinet and restorable tolatch said refrigerator door to said refrigerator cabinet, and meansoperating responsive to the operation of said latching means forsimultaneously forcing said refrigerator door to the open position andcausing said lamp to be illuminated and operating responsive to therestoration of said latching means for extinguishing said lamp, saidlast mentioned means comprising a plunger slidably mounted within onewall of said refrigerator cabinet and projectable against saidrefrigerator door when said refrigerator door is in the closed position,switching means mounted in said one wall of said refrigerator cabinet inoperative engagement with said plunger, power means associated with saidplunger and operating responsive to the operation of said latching meansfor causing said plunger to be projected against said refrigerator doorwhereby said refrigerator door is forced to the open position, saidswitching means formed to engage said plunger so that when said plungeris projected against said refrigerator door to force said refrigeratordoor to the open position said switching means operates to cause theillumination of said lamp, said switching means further formed to engagesaid plunger so that when said refrigerator door is moved to the closedposition said plunger restores said switching means whereby said lamp isextinguished.

2. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator door pivotallymounted over an open side of said refrigerator cabinet, a lamp mountedwithin said refrigerator cabinet, latching means operable to unlatchsaid refrigerator door from said refrigerator cabinet and restorable tolatch said refrigerator door to said refrigerator cabinet, a cylindermounted within one wall of said refrigerator cabinet, a plunger slidablymounted within said cylinder along an axis whereby said plunger isprojectible against said refrigerator door when said refrigerator dooris in the closed position, a compressed coiled spring disposed about aportion of said plunger within said cylinder and cooperating with saidplunger and said cylinder so that one end of said plunger is biasedagainst said refrigerator door when said refrigerator door is in theclosedposition, said coiled spring projecting said one end of saidplunger against said refrigerator door responsive to the operation ofsaid latching means whereby said refrigerator door is forced to the openposition, switching means mounted-in said one wall of said refrigeratorcabinet in operative engagement with the other end of said plunger, saidswitching means formed to en gage said other end of said plunger so thatwhen said one end of said plunger is projected against said refrigeratordoor to force said refrigerator door to the open position said switchingmeansoperates to cause the illumination of said lamp, said switchingmeans further formed to engage the other end of said plunger so thatwhen said refrigerator door is moved to the closed position and saidlatiching means is restored said plunger restores said switching meanswhereby said lamp is extinguished.

3. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator door pivotallymounted over an open side of said refrigerator cabinet, a lamp mountedwithin said refrigerator cabinet, latching means operable to unlatchsaid refrigerator door from said refrigerator cabinet and restorable tolatch said refrigerator door to said refrigerator cabinet, a cylindermounted within one wall of said refrigerator cabinet, a plunger slidablymounted within said cylinder along an axis normal to the plane of saidrefrigerator door whereby said plunger is projectable against saidrefrigerator door, a compressed coiled spring disposed about a portionof said plunger within said cylinder and cooperating with said plungerand said cylinder so that one end of said plunger is biased toward saidrefrigerator door, said compressed coiled spring projecting said one endof said plunger against said refrigerator door responsive to theoperation of said latching means whereby said refrigerator door isforced to the open position, a switch mounted within said one wall ofsaid refrigerator cabinet and connected to said lamp for the operationthereof, a second plunger connected to said switch, said second plungerformed to be slidable along the same axis as said first plunger isslidable, said second plunger positioned to abut the other end of saidfirst plunger so that said second plunger moves to cause said switch tooperate to illuminate said lamp when said one end of said first plungeris projected against said refrigerator door to force said refrigeratordoor to the open position, said second plunger further positioned toabut the other end of said first plunger so that said first plungermoves said second plunger to cause said switch to extinguish said lampwhen said refrigerator door is moved to the closed position and saidlatching means is restored.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet having a latchable door and having a lampmounted interiorly thereof, means for simultaneously forcing therefrigerator door to the open position and for illuminating the lampwhen the refrigerator door is unlatched and for extinguishing said lampwhen said door is closed, said means comprising a plunger mounted withinone wall of said refrigerator cabinet, switching means mounted withinsaid one wall of said refrigerator cabinet in cooperation with saidplunger and said lamp, power means mounted in cooperation with saidplunger for causing said plunger to be projected against saidrefrigerator door when said refrigerator door is unlatched, whereby saidrefrigerator door is forced to the open position, said switching meansoperating responsive to the projection of said plunger against saidrefrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open positionfor illuminating said lamp,

means for restoring said plunger when said refrigerator door is latched,said switching means operating responsive to the restoration of saidplunger for extinguishing said lamp.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet having a latchable door and having a lampmounted interiorly thereof, means for simultaneously forcing therefrigerator door to the open position and for illuminating the lampwhen the refrig erator door is unlatched and for extinguishing said lampwhen said door is closed, said means comprising a cylinder mountedwithin one wall of said refrigerator cabinet, a plunger slidably mountedwithin said cylinder so as to be projectable against said refrigeratordoor, a compressed coiled spring mounted about a portion of said plungerwithin said cylinder, said compressed coiled spring biasing said plungertoward said refrigerator door, said bias of said compressed coiledspring being suflicient to project said plunger against saidrefrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open positionwhen said refrigerator door is unlatched, means for restoring saidplunger when said refrigerator door is moved to the closed position,switching means mounted within said one wall of said refrigeratorcabinet in cooperation with said plunger and said lamp, said switchingmeans operating responsive to the projection of said plunger againstsaid refrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the openposition for illuminating said lamp, said switching means operatingresponsive to the restoration of said plunger for extinguishing saidlamp.

6. In a refrigerator cabinet having a latchable door and a lamp mountedinteriorly thereof, means for simultaneously forcing the refrigeratordoor to the open position and for illuminating the lamp when therefrigerator door is unlatched and for extinguishing said lamp when saiddoor is closed, said means comprising a plunger slidably mounted withinone wall of said refrigerator cabinet, power means associated with saidplunger and operating responsive to the unlatching of said refrigeratordoor for projecting said plunger against said refrigerator door to forcesaid refrigerator door to the open position, said power means restoringresponsive to the restoration of said plunger responsive to a closing ofsaid refrigerator door, a switch connected to said lamp for theoperation thereof, a second plunger slidably connected to said switchand slidably abutting said first plunger, said second plunger slidingresponsive to the projection of said first plunger against saidrefrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open positionto cause said switch to operate to illuminate said lamp, and said secondplunger sliding responsive to the restoration of said plunger to causesaid switch to restore to extinguish said lamp.

7. In a refrigerator cabinet having a latchable door and having a lampmounted interiorly thereof, means for simultaneously forcing therefrigerator door to the open position and for illuminating the lampwhen the refrigerator door is unlatched and for extinguishing said lampwhen said door is closed, said means comprising a cylinder mountedWithin one Wall of said refrigerator cabinet, a plunger slidably mountedwithin said cylinder so as to be projectable against said refrigeratordoor, a compressed coiled spring mounted about a portion of said plungerwithin said cylinder, said compressed coil spring biasing said plungertowards said refrigerator door, said bias of said compressed coiledspring being sufiicient to project said plunger against saidrefrigerator door to force said refrigerator door to the open positionwhen said refrigerator door is unlatched, said refrigerator door beingformed to restore said plunger when said refrigerator door is moved tothe closed position, a switch mounted within said one wall of saidrefrigerator cabinet for the operation of said lamp, a second plungerslidably associated with said first plunger and connected to said switchand positioned to be slidable along the same axis as said first plungeris slidable, said second plunger sliding responsive to the projection ofsaid first plunger against said refrigerator door to cause said switchto operate to illuminate said lamp, and said second plunger slidingresponsive to the restoration of said first plunger to cause said switchto restore to extinguish said lamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,143,290 Lippincott June 15, 1915 1,424,650 Kubik Aug. 1, 19221,976,269 Stewert Oct. 9, 1934 2,093,317 Gates Sept. 14, 1937 2,156,443Zook May 2, 1939

